😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,079 in Zouk Mikael.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,677 in Zouk Mikael.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,275 in Zouk Mikael.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 29% more expensive than in Zouk Mikael, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Zouk Mikael is 19% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.5K
$10.73LBP 960.0K
-66.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32Rp 583.4K
$59.8LBP 5.3M
-45.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01Rp 90.4K
$7.77LBP 695.5K
-35.52%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 51.0K
$3.41LBP 305.2K
-17.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35Rp 24.4K
$1.58LBP 141.1K
-14.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.2K
$0.86LBP 77.1K
-15.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93Rp 53.0K
$3.54LBP 317.2K
-17.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94Rp 71.1K
$4.88LBP 436.7K
-19.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78Rp 32.1K
$1.70LBP 152.6K
4.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45Rp 44.2K
$0.30LBP 26.8K
716.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$1.80LBP 161.5K
-36.11%
Eggs
$2.41Rp 43.6K
$3.08LBP 275.6K
-21.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33Rp 258.7K
$4.86LBP 434.8K
194.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$9.53LBP 853.3K
-56.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06Rp 217.7K
$11.47LBP 1.0M
5.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64Rp 65.7K
$1.81LBP 162.4K
101.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.3K
$1.45LBP 130.0K
8.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 50.3K
$1.11LBP 99.3K
151.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.5K
$1.04LBP 93.4K
115.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98Rp 35.7K
$0.38LBP 34.2K
421.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 41.1K
$1.03LBP 92.3K
121.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 19.0K
$0.82LBP 73.3K
28.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$0.55LBP 49.5K
43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19Rp 57.6K
$2.53LBP 226.4K
26.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 424.1K
$9.89LBP 885.1K
137.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 52.3K
$0.87LBP 77.7K
233.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 49.7K
$2.20LBP 197.3K
25.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,813
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 151.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,167
$4.90LBP 438.3K
-90.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,298
$1.23LBP 110.0K
-62.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07Rp 109.6K
$20.09LBP 1.8M
-69.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.6K
$0.89LBP 79.7K
-3.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 480.0M
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
-23.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 587.6M
$27.3KLBP 2.4B
19.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0Rp 1.4M
$173LBP 15.5M
-54.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 73.9K
$38.23LBP 3.4M
-89.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85Rp 430.5K
$37.12LBP 3.3M
-35.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 72.3K
$8.17LBP 731.3K
-50.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.4M
$297LBP 26.6M
0.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,602Rp 119.2M
$4,449LBP 398.2M
48.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4Rp 964.5K
$70.1LBP 6.3M
-23.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11Rp 688.1K
$44.14LBP 4.0M
-13.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7Rp 1.6M
$73.7LBP 6.6M
20.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6Rp 1.4M
$95.8LBP 8.6M
-19.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020Rp 18.4M
$499LBP 44.7M
104.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680Rp 12.3M
$298LBP 26.6M
128.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,469Rp 62.6M
$1,003LBP 89.8M
245.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,090Rp 37.7M
$502LBP 44.9M
316.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
4.25
212.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Last update for Zouk Mikael: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $499 in Zouk Mikael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $60.0 in Zouk Mikael. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $205, with Zouk Mikael cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ubud, Bali vs Zouk Mikael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Zouk Mikael wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zouk Mikael the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Zouk Mikael?
You'd need roughly $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $1,619 in Zouk Mikael to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $499 in Zouk Mikael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Zouk Mikael?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,079 in Zouk Mikael – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ubud, Bali or in Zouk Mikael?
At $1,079 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zouk Mikael but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zouk Mikael the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zouk Mikael delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,079 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zouk Mikael hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zouk Mikael are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Zouk Mikael gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared